Matters Microbial #100: What’s the Buzz on Phage Therapy for Honeybees?

July 17, 2025

Today, Dr. Heather Hendrickson from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the research she and her team are conducting on bacteriophage therapy to protect vulnerable honeybees from bacterial infections.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Heather Hendrickson

Download MM100 (38 MB MP3, 63 mins)

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  • Here is the website for a former undergraduate research student of mine, Dr. Paula Welander, now a professor and administrator at Stanford University.  Yes, I am proud.
  • Here is a link to another former undergraduate research student of mine, Dr. Krista Venecia Edmiston, now a professor at California Health Sciences University.  Yes, I am proud.
  • A review on cell shape in bacteria.
  • A review on the cytoskeleton of bacteria and archaea.
  • I am a great admirer of Dr. John Roth, and his clearheaded and direct approach to microbial genetics.  Here is his academic website with many publications.
  • An article about the causative agent of American Foulbrood, Paenibacillus larvae.
  • An overview of American Foulbrood’s impact on honeybees.
  • The honeybee lifecycle.
  • Beemites and honeybees.
  • A video overview of bacteriophage therapy against bacterial diseases.
  • An explainer of bacteriophage plaques.
  • A video overview of lytic versus lysogenic bacteriophages.
  • Dr. Graham Hatfull and his simply amazing SEAPHAGEs program, teaching so many people about isolating and studying bacteriophages.
  • An article from Dr. Hendrickson’s laboratory exploring cell shape in bacteria.
  • An article from Dr. Hendrickson’s laboratory explaining the importance of protecting honeybees from American Foulbrood, and the approach her laboratory uses.
  • An article from Dr. Hendrickson’s laboratory describing a community based approach to search for bacteriophages of Paenibacillus larvae.
  • An article from Dr. Hendrickson’s laboratory analyzing the types of Paenibacillus attacking bacteriophages isolated in New Zealand.
  • An article from Dr. Hendrickson’s laboratory describing an improved method for isolating bacteriophages.
  • A truly great video from Dr. Hendrickson some years ago, explaining her research.  This is a “must see.”
  • Dr. Hendrickson’s faculty webpage.
  • Dr. Hendrickson’s informative research group website.
  • This section of Dr. Hendrickson’s research group website is devoted to outreach, and so very worth your time.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

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